Long Valley teen Glenn Lightner (pictured with parents Silvia and Larry in August), who had a rare form of brain cancer, lost his five-year battle with cancer Wednesday morning, according to a family friend. Frank H. Conion/For the Star-Ledger

LONG VALLEY — Glenn Lightner, who fought a rare form of brain cancer for the past five years, died Wednesday morning, according to a family friend.

David Yaskulka of Long Valley said he and other neighbors received a text message from Larry Lightner, Glenn's father, this morning reporting that Glenn died at 7:30 a.m.

Glenn was diagnosed with anaplastic ependymoma in 2007, which causes tumors to form in the brain.

Since
his diagnosis, Glenn has undergone several surgeries along with
experimental chemotherapy and radiation treatments in the United States as well as in
Germany and Belgium.

Glenn told The Star-Ledger in September that six more tumors were discovered during a recent brain scan. Among those was one of the
most aggressive types of brain tumors, known as glioblastoma multiforme.

Larry Lightner told NJ.com in October that his wife, Silvia, and Glenn returned to Europe for another experimental chemotherapy treatment. The treatment, which was not covered
by insurance, was estimated to cost more than $100,000, he said.

Yasulka said he moved into his current neighborhood eight years ago and
met the Lightner family when Larry brought over his two sons, Glenn and Karl, who were of a similar age to Yasulka's sons.

"Glenn and the whole Lightner family
have been great friends," Yaskulka said. "Reflecting on this sad day, I really can't help but be
inspired by Larry and Silvia's stamina and strength as parents. They've been an
inspiration for thousands and thousands of us in Long valley just as Glenn and
his courage have been."

Yasulka said Glenn had continued to have
an active life in his final months — shooting basketballs and traveling
to Memphis for a basketball game.